‘Butta Renuka Received Rs 70 Crore To Join TDP’ 

Vijayawada: YSRCP official spokesperson K Parthasarathy on Tuesday asked Kurnool MP Buta Renuka as to what made her join the TDP. Speaking to media persons here in the city, Parthasarathy said that despite a political novice, she was given a party ticket and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had ensured her victory.

In the wake of Renuka joining the TDP, speculation is rife that she received a bribe to a tune of Rs 70 crore for defecting, he said. "Doesn't Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have any ethical values? Did Butta Renuka shift her loyalties for the money she got from Chandrababu?" he questioned. Chandrababu has again started buying YSRCP leaders to cover up his corruption and financial irregularities. This move is aimed at distracting the people's attention in the state, Parathasarathy said.

He said the TDP is in jitters because of YS Jagan's Padayatra, which is set to begin from November 2. He said the party was trying to pre-empt the yatra by engineering defections.

The Chief Minister also gave ministerial berths to those who don't deserve them. YS Jagan, who is committed to ethical values, has inducted Silpa Chakrapani Reddy into the party fold only after the latter resigned to his MLC post. The YSRCP leader also threw a challenge to the TDP for an open debate on BC welfare.